What's in a name?
Is it ME or is it CFS or are they the same thing?
Hi there Luckyluke
Having suffered this for many years, my understanding is this:
As ME/CFS/CFIDS is a series of symptoms grouped together under a loose 'umbrella' with no specific cause (as yet) found with common symptoms that may or may not conform to a preconceived set of specific symptoms - we are all individuals with our body's own specific mode of responding to various stresses - then there is bound to be some confusion over labelling it. All however include a fatigue that is intractable with muscle weakness. It is generally understood to be malfunction of the power-generating mitochondria in the body's cells and many possible causes and theories abound - why are the mitochondria malfunctioning?
Symptoms are listed on many different dedicated sites if you Google it.
See also - according to them 'ME is a clearly defined disease process. CFS by definition has always been a syndrome.'
In my experience
CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a name stems from earlier (1980's) diagnosis when this problem was labelled very unkindly 'Yuppie Flu' and tended to be looked at as a psychiatric problem (after a doctor published his opinions!) - many people have suffered years of poor care and misunderstanding as a result. It is far, far more than tiredness.
ME - Myalgic Encephalitis - tends to be ascribed to those who have problems that include 'brain fog' and sensory problems. I believe it was coined ffor those who suffered neurological symptoms over and above those of CFS.
CFIDS - Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome is the more common term used in America, where more research has been done and physiological causes are beginning to be uncovered.
One of the best UK sites is and if you contact them they will email full information about CFS/ME and how to deal with it.
Hope that helps
Hi again
Clickfor a good link to help understand ME/CFS.
Thanks for those replies Caroline.
I am bewildered that there aren't more people on the forum with an opinion about this................
Thanks for those replies Caroline.
I am bewildered that there aren't more people on the forum with an opinion about this................
I don't understand why this should puzzle you, luke. This forum covers a wide range of subjects; there can't be many people here who know that much about ME/CFS or have an opinion about which name is correct.
In all fairness you didn't ask for an opinion, you asked for an understanding of what ME is and what CFS is!
In all fairness you didn't ask for an opinion, you asked for an understanding of what ME is and what CFS is!
Its a SYMPTOM
There are MANY causes but the bottom line is ENERGY PRODUCTION.
Fatigue is caused by MANY things so the goal is to FIND THE CAUSES.
DR PERRIN for e.g has found everyone with CFS has a problem with the lymphatics and draining toxins.
Dr mYhill has published papers on poor mitochondrial function causing fatigue.